St. Augustine Offers History and Fun

The next time you visit Florida, plan a stop in St. Augustine. As the oldest continuously occupied city in the United States (Sorry, Plymouth Rock and Jamestown) it’s a vibrant city with an exciting and sometimes tumultuous past. 

St. Augustine is not easy to put in a nutshell. Officially founded in 1565 by the Spanish, the city includes their history, plus British rule, a second Spanish period, Civil War, an oil tycoon, and a civil rights movement. Not to mention, the natives occupied the land before Ponce de Leon arrived.

With over 400 years of recorded remarkable history, you can see why the city is alive with the past.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

The Fountain of Youth is more than just a gimmick to drink from the mineral waters acclaimed to bring everlasting youth. While the archaeological park offers drinks from the spring, it also demonstrates various living history exhibits such as the Timucuan village, the Nombre de Dios  Mission, a blacksmith, a boathouse and cannon firing.

Depending on the time of year, excavations happen around the park. well. This site was home to many native Americans, the Timucuans.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions of the reenactors and demonstrators located around the park. These folks have a wealth of information to share about their trade and the people who lived on those grounds hundreds of years ago.

Advanced Tickets at the Fountain of Youth are $17. Consider one of the special packages with combo tickets here too.

REENACTMENTS

This is my favorite part of St. Augustine’s living history. No matter the weekend, you can almost always find a reenactment in the city.

Recently, my son and I visited in order to watch Drake’s Raid. Drake’s raid is a battle reenactment of the anniversary when Drake ransacked and burned the city in 1586. Actors portrayed historical encampments, marching and shooting training, and demonstrations resulting in the battle on the streets of St. Augustine. What’s unique about this particular reenactment is the location. It’s not limited to one location or encampment in the city, and you’ll likely see “soldiers” training near the cemetery or walking St. George Street.

Nights of Lights 

Every year, millions of twinkling lights cover the cityscape of St. Augustine from November 18, 2017, and continuing nightly through January 31, 2018. Come see why Nights of Lights was selected by National Geographic in both 2011 and 2012 as one of the best holiday lighting displays in the world as you journey through the old town by trolley, on foot or from a horse and carriage ride. Learn more here.

Columbia Restaurant

The Columbia restaurant in St. Augustine, while not the original, is part of a unique chain of restaurants in Florida. Family owned and operated for over 6 generations, it’s one of the few in the US that can lay claim to that designations. Originally started outside a Cuban cigar factory in Tampa, the owner created his own version of the Cuban sandwich to reflect the diversity of the immigrants in the area. It’s like no other Cuban sandwich elsewhere and worth the trip. 

HISTORY WHILE GETTING AROUND ST. AUGUSTINE

In the historical district, parking is scarce. I’d highly recommend taking one of the two trolley tours offered in the city. Not only do you get a comfortable ride to the cities attractions, but you’ll also get a guided history tour while you’re at it.

The Red Train Tours are not scripted. Ripley’s Believe it or Not runs the Red Trains and you can park at the museum. They are hop-on-hop-off. Take a map and look for the signs throughout the city.

The hop on hop off Old Town Trolley Tour includes admission to the Florida Heritage Museum as well.

On one of the trolley rides, we learned more about the history of the city, including insights on Flagler and even a jaunt through the Lincolnville Historic District, home to freedmen after the Civil War and an important part of the Civil Rights Movement.

These are just a small part of St. Augustine’s living history. Visiting St. Augustine, Florida provides a glimpse of nearly every facet of American history all in one place.

Want assistance in planning a trip to St. Augustine or anywhere else in Florida? Please contact us.

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